Ending the Game^®: A New Psychoeducational Curriculum for Victims of Commercial Sexual Exploitation

Abstract

Commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) involves sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, leading to traumatization. Interventions show promise in preventing revictimization and facilitating the integration of victims into communities. This study describes the development and pilot implementation of Ending the Game^® (ETG), a psychoeducational curriculum for victims of CSE. The program follows a peer-support model and is open to youth and adult victims. The study aimed to assess program engagement, curriculum acceptability, and potential for effectiveness. Findings indicated the rate of attrition comparable to other group curricula and low rate of non-response, particularly on Likert-scale and dichotomous items. Curriculum acceptability was high in terms of content, facilitators, and group environment. The t-test comparisons showed positive trends in improvement of regulatory capacity, relational capacity, sense of self, and future orientation. Taken together, findings demonstrate the utility of ETG in supporting youth and adult victims of CSE, pending modifications to align curriculum with evidence-based practices.

Keywords:

• Commercial sexual exploitation
• Ending the Game
• interventions
• prostitution
• sex trafficking

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This research was supported by the University of California in Davis Continuing and Professional Education—Human Services, Sowers Education Group, and Extension at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).